It’s “Heart for the Disabled” week here at Joni and Friends!
That’s right, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and this week I am asking you to help me give real Christian encouragement to disabled people and their families, most of whom attended last year’s Family Retreats. It’s mid-winter, the skies are gray, and these families are in need of a lift, what with all the disability routines day after day. So I’m asking you (as I’ve been doing all week) to pick up a pen and jot a Valentine’s card or a note, send a poem, maybe a Scripture or two, or just a brief letter telling a special needs family that you’re praying for them. And today I’m thinking of John and Joanne who have six children, ranging in age from 7 to 17—including Paul who is 13 years old and has severe autism. This family has attended Family Retreat for three years. In fact, Retreat has been so life changing for them, their oldest daughter Leah signed up to be a volunteer this past summer.
Now you might be thinking, well sure, they have six children but only 13-year-old Paul is disabled. Well, let me set the record straight, okay? Last year at Family Retreat Paul required a team of three strong volunteers, and even those three were worn out after only spending a couple of days helping Paul. Now that was only a few days at Family Retreat, but oh, my goodness, John and Joanne experience a 24/7 non-stop, constant on-the-go life with Paul and his severe autism. The first time this couple brought their family to Family Retreat, they were terrified to leave Paul’s side, fearing he would run off or have repeated meltdowns. By their second year at Family Retreat though, Paul immediately fit right in with his helpers.
I think it’s so cool that Paul insists that the family keep all their photos from retreat up on the refrigerator. In fact, it’s at Family Retreat where he gets to ride on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle (oh my goodness yes, we will go to any extent to make it fun for kids with disabilities). His family says it’s nothing short of a miracle to see the way Paul gets so relaxed and happy at Family Retreat. This 13-year-old is mostly nonverbal, but when the family talks about Family Retreat, he keeps repeating: “Go, go, go!” One of the kids came home from Retreat last summer and immediately put up a countdown chart on the refrigerator to this year’s Retreat. One additional word: After Family Retreat last year, John had a heart attack with multiple life-threatening complications. And who showed up to help Joanne with the six kids? Yep, you guessed it, several Family Retreat volunteers. Their service went beyond and above the Family Retreat; they were there to encourage John and Joanne and the entire family that, by God's grace, they were going to make it!
I hope you can see that this family really needs Christian encouragement. They need to read uplifting Scriptures from you — or perhaps you could get your children or Sunday school class to color some cards for the six children, including Paul; something bright and colorful, I know that’s what he’d like. And you don’t have to, but if you really want to go the extra mile, tuck in a Dunkin’ Donuts gift certificate or something small like that. Believe me, this family will be thrilled to open up their mailbox on Valentine’s Day and see hundreds of cards and letters from friends like you. So be sure to jot your note today to John and Joanne. Then, send your card to Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, California 91376, and we’ll make certain it gets there in time for Valentine’s Day—and if you need to be reminded of the details you can always get the whole scoop on my radio page at joniandfriends.org. Thanks for having a heart for the disabled.
© Joni and Friends, 2014
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376